India hosts maiden Operation Southern Readiness in Kochi, 26 nations join maritime exercise

India on Monday launched the first edition of Operation Southern Readiness (OSR) on its soil, bringing together participants from 26 countries for a four-day multinational maritime security training exercise at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi.

The exercise, which runs from July 20 to July 23, has drawn 254 participants and is aimed at strengthening cooperation, interoperability and professional readiness among partner navies.

Hosted by the Southern Naval Command, the programme is being conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The exercise is being organised under the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the CMF's dedicated training task force. According to the Indian Navy, this is the first time that Operation Southern Readiness is being held in India, highlighting the country's growing role in multinational maritime training and regional security cooperation.

More from India

Indian Navy leads multinational training effort

The programme is supported by 74 facilitators, representatives from four international organisations and several subject matter experts. CTF 154, which is currently commanded by the Indian Navy, focuses on building maritime capacity and improving coordination among CMF partner nations through specialised training programmes.

The opening ceremony featured remarks by Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Commander of CTF 154. Commodore Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, delivered the inaugural address, while Rear Admiral Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training) at the Headquarters of the Southern Naval Command, gave the keynote address.

Officials said the exercise reflects the Indian Navy's commitment to enhancing cooperation with partner countries and promoting a safe and secure maritime environment across the region.

Focus on maritime security and ship management

The first day of the exercise focused on ship management and maritime security challenges. Participants attended a briefing by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which highlighted evolving security threats in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean.

The delegates also underwent simulator-based training using the Indian Navy's training infrastructure. The sessions covered ship handling, navigation, astro-navigation, maritime distress communication systems, damage control and firefighting, giving participants practical exposure to a range of operational scenarios.

Three more days of practical training

The remaining three days of Operation Southern Readiness will feature additional professional sessions, simulator-based exercises and practical activities focused on contemporary maritime security challenges.

The Indian Navy said the engagement is designed to improve multinational coordination and strengthen professional readiness among participating nations. By hosting the exercise for the first time, India is also reinforcing its position as a key maritime security and training partner in the Indian Ocean region.